TG4 Championship Action Previews

 

The TG4 Ladies Football Championship continues this weekend with the action coming from Munster and Leinster. Old rivals Cork and Kerry go head to head for the first time in this year’s championship with Limerick and Tipperary meeting in the Intermediate Championship. The pairing for the 2014 TG4 Leinster Championship Final will be decided this weekend when Dublin meet Westmeath and Laois take on Meath in the other semi final.

 

Cork were in typically strong form as they overcame Clare in the first round of the championship with  a healthy scoreline of 7-23. There were plenty of reasons for optimism for the Rebellettes as relative new comers like Emma Farmer and Eimear Scally both contributed well to the scoreline with Ciara O’Sullivan also contributing well throughout. Further good news for Cork came in the shape of the return of star forward, Nollaig Cleary. Eamonn Ryan has no further injury concerns from last week but will again be without Doireann O’Sullivan and Norita Kelly.

 

Kerry will get the defence of their Munster crown under way against their old enemy at the weekend and will be determined to put down a marker having lost their last two competitive fixtures against the TG4 All Ireland Champions. Manager, William O’Sullivan, has a full squad to select from apart from long term injury victim Deborah Murphy, one other thing to look out for is the possible inclusion of Amanda Brosnan who has recently converted from the forward division to goalkeeper.

 

The Intermediate Championship is also up for grabs in Munster where Limerick will hope to get their campaign back on track against an unknown quantity in Tipperary this weekend.

 

In Leinster the defending champions, and championship favourites, Dublin will meet Westmeath in the Leinster Championship Semi Final. There is a huge boost for Dublin, who dismantled Kildare last weekend, in the news that team captain, Sinead Goldrick, is back in full training and may play some part in the action at the weekend. Westmeath get their first taste of competitive action since their League final appearance in May. Dublin are undoubtedly favourites for this match but this is a strong Westmeath outfit that could easily spring a surprise. Elsewhere, Meath and Laois renew their rivalry in the other semi-final.

 

Meath defeated Laois at the same stage last year and will be determined to repeat the trick. Lar Wall will be without the injured Laura Dempsey and the unavailable Irene Munnelly and Ger Doherty. Meath will look very much to youth in this encounter and are expected to field 8 of the Under 21 team that reached the Aisling McGing Cup Final, the likes of Emma Troy and Bridgetta Lynch have come through the ranks with experience provided by captain, Shauna Barrett along with Jenny Rispin and star forward Katie O’Brien. Laois retained their Division 1 status this season and have a tendency of producing big performances, there is also the added incentive of getting revenge for their defeat at the hands of the Royals last year. Their talisman and captain, Tracey Lawlor, is the player to watch again as when she plays well Laois tend to also.

 

Saturday, June 28^th

 

TG4 Munster Senior Football Championship Round 2

 

Cork v Kerry

Páirc Uí Rinn, 2:30pm

 

TG4 Munster Intermediate Football Championship Round 2

 

Limerick v Tipperary

Claughan 3:00pm

 

Sunday, June 29th

 

TG4 Leinster Senior Football Championship Semi Finals

 

Laois v Meath

Crettyard GAA Club, 2:00pm

 

Dublin v Westmeath

Naomh Mearnóg, 1:00pm

 

Notes: Players featured in attached image: Cork’s Briege Corkery and Kerry’s Louise Galvin pictured at the Munster Ladies Football Championship Launch.